Crochet Lacy Bolero from Mercerized Cotton Yarn, Crochet Video Tutorial

I recently got a new dress with beautiful toile fabric, and I needed a lacy shoulder garment to wear with it. I had a perfect match yarn, 100% mercerized cotton, in the same shade of blue as on my dress. And in a few days I crocheted myself a lacy bolero.

The construction of this lacy crochet bolero is very easy. There panels are crocheted and sewn together. There are no increases or decreases on the crochet panels (only a few easy decreases on the arm openings).

The yarn that I used is Alize Bahar, category 3, DK, 100% mercerized cotton. I worked with a hook size E (3.5 mm)

Buy this yarn on Amazon

Buy this hook on Amazon

In my Youtube video tutorial I explain how to crochet this lacy bolero. 

 

5 Crochet Tips/Tricks that I OFTEN use but DON'T SHOW in my tutorials

In my latest Youtube video I shared five crochet tips or tricks that I often use but never really show in my video tutorials. 

The reason I don't show them is not because these are some secret crochet tips that I want to keep to myself, but simply because if I did mention them in each and every of my video tutorials, my videos would be very long and repetitive. 

But these are some very helpful and useful tips that can greatly improve the quality of one's crochet.

 

These five tricks are:

1. Using a larger size hook for starting chain (especially when working with mercerized cotton). 

2. Adding a couple of extra chains to my starting chains (especially if my starting chain is long). 

3. Crocheting under one loop vs. crocheting under two loops when working the first row. 

4. Staring a row with three chains (which count as 1st double crochet) vs. starting a row with a beginning double crochet. 

5. At the end of the row, working the last double crochet into the second (or middle) chain of turning three chains instead of working it into the third (or top) chain. 

For more information and explanations, watch my video.

Crochet Lightweight Lacy Summer Cardigan, Can Be Made in Any Size, Free Video Tutorial

I am enjoying this summer as never before! I am enjoying the warm days, the blue skies, the flowers, and crocheting (of course)! 

I just just finished a beautiful, lightweight, lacy cardigan, which makes a wonderful addition to my summer wardrobe.

It comes handy when I go for evening walks, it keeps me comfortable! I also grab it when I go shopping as many stores and shopping malls can be a bit chilly because of the AC.

I hope you like my summer cardigan, and perhaps you'd like to make one too!

Skill Level: Intermediate The yarn that I used is category 2, 100% acrylic yarn. I worked with a hook size E (3.5 mm) 

This cardigan can be made with category 3 yarns as well, but I wouldn't recommend anything beyond category 3. Cotton yarns will be a good option too.

 

I didn't write a pattern for this cardigan. However, I made a video tutorial in which I explained and showed in great detail how to take the measuremnts, make the calculations, and to crochet this cardigan! The video tutorial is available on my Youtube channel. 

Crochet Lacy Stitch with Popcorns, Lacy Stitch for Summer Tops, Cardigans, or Bags

Here is a beautiful crochet lacy stitch that can be used for many summer projects, such as tops or blouses, cardigans, or lacy summer bags! 

Because this pattern incorporates popcorn stitches, the finished fabric is not reversible. However, if you substitute the popcorns with double crochet clusters, the finished fabric will look similar on both sides. 

I crocheted this sample with 100% mercerized cotton, but other yarns can be used too. 

The specific yarn that I used is Paton's Grace, color ginger. 

 

I have a detailed video tutorial for this stitch available on my Youtube channel.

And the written pattern is available in my Etsy shop. 

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July, dear Friends! 

For me - an immigrant who came to this country at the young age of 20, not speaking the language, not having any money, not having any education beyond high school, not having any skills - this is a very special day! 

To me the 4th of July represents endless opportunities that the American land graciously offers to those who are willing to work hard, study, learn new things, and overcome their limitations! 

I'm deeply grateful to this country for all the opportunities it has given me! I'm grateful to the American people of different backgrounds and ethnicities who I've met on my journey and who helped me, encouraged me, and motivated me to achieve my American dream! 

Well... now that I think of it...

 I did have one skill when I arrived to America, though back then I didn't think of it as such! 

Can you guess what it was? 

Crochet, of course! 

With the advance of the Internet, that little skill of mine turned into something quite amazing - my own crochet blog, my own pattern shop, my own Youtube channel! 

And for that too, I'm deeply grateful! 

Happy 4th of July! 

P.S. The doily featured in this post is my own design from a few years ago. See it on Ravelry.